Let's Give Them Something to Talk About...
What Critics, Booksellers, and Hiking Experts have said about Karen's books
Where the Waters Divide
(coauthored with Dan Smith)
"Their story is compelling... Two extraordinary people who talked about getting married, buying a house -- and maybe hiking the Continental Divide. They took along a good sense of observation and more important still, a sense of humor." -- Wall Street Journal.
"The book does more than recount an amazing journey. It integrates critical political issues such as western water policy , fire suppression policy on public lands, the Endangered Species Act, and the role of grazing on federal land, all with a fine sense of history, making for delightful, invigorating reading." -- San Francisco Chronicle.
"The authors took the time to talk to people of many professions along the way.... The book offers spectacular sights and geology, grizzlies and personal stories, history, and the wonder that is part of this magnificent stretch of land." -- Everett Herald (Washington).
"Not only their enviable adventures on the trail but the information they took time to gather about the history and concerns of the people in the area they hiked through give this beautifully written book added dimension and scope." -- Bookman News.
"Romance and curiosity inspired the authors to stride out on the ultimate hike in the U.S. from Mexico to Canada. The long trek took in deserts, mesas, hills, mountains, and plenty of lightning along the spine. Not a trail guide, nor a simple travelogue, it investigates issues, history, and human impacts along the way and tells the good, the bad, and the ugly." -- Scripps Howard News Service.
"An armchair traveler's delight. They not only discuss their plucky adventure, they also discuss controversial issues such as clear cutting, grazing fees, endangered species, and water resources management. Politicians and bureaucrats would be well-advised to contemplate their commonsense thoughts about our land and resources. -- Trenton Times (New Jersey).
"There are any number of amazing and courageous journeys taken... This is the diary of one of them... told with great charm, some irony, and more than a little wit." -- The Travel Book Review.
"The Divide comes alive in this book through the trials, tribulations, and, in the end, personal triumphs of Berger and Smith as they discover the soul of the land they traversed. A remarkable tale of a remarkable journey. -- Milwaukee Journal.
"A grand adventure and a thoughtful examination of the myth and reality of the modern West." -- The Flint Journal (Michigan).
"An engaging account of one couple's 3,000-mile journey along America's wild and lovely spinal cord." -- Knight-Ridder Newspapers.
"The (journey) astounds with the sheer magnitude of their accomplishment." -- Montana Magazine.
"They should know better than to start out on a hike like this. But we can be glad they did, and that they have written about their experiences so impressively." -- New Mexico Magazine.
"Chock full of great stories about the mountains and the people who have flourished in their shadow for hundreds of years. -- Hartford Courant.
"Think of the best sight-seeing trip you've ever taken. Doubtless, there was memorable scenery. The companionship was probably another crucial part of the experience. And it's a good bet you learned a thing or to as well. Where the Waters Divide can't give you the experience of seeing the mountains, but its servings of history and science sure make you want to go. -- Concord Monitor, New Hampshire.
"The authors write of their 1990 journey along the Continental Divide... This 3,000-mile journey along an ill-defined route that can be described as primitive at best in some places, is as much a story of the American West as it is of the author's monumental hike." -- Syndicated review to New Hampshire independent newspapers.
Hiking and Backpacking: A Complete Guide
"Beautifully illustrated soup-to-nuts adventure guide.... ideal for summer." -- Women's Sports and Fitness.
"Cramming a surprising variety of trail-wise tips into its 200 pages. Hundreds of tips on rest-stepping, seam sealing, bear bagging, and winter camping, just to name a few... the pleasing graphic presentation and numerous sidebars on backcountry tips make it extremely accessible and fun to look at, and lift it head-and-shoulders above (other books)." -- Backpacker.
"Easy to tote practical guidebook... tells all on how to select and assemble a tent, foot care on the trail, and how to be an environmentally friendly camper." -- Orange County Register.
"Attractive and well-designed; filled with solid information and tips... Commonsense stuff throughout." -- LA Times.
"Karen Berger's
Hiking and Backpackng: A Complete Guide is the best guide I have seen to the mechanics of the past-time. In 200 or so concise, easy-to-read pages, Berger covers everything from boots to back-country navigation, from hints on quick, easy, and inexpensive trail meals to sensible advice on hiking with your loved one or your kids. Berger takes a calm, unintimidating approach to hiking... she remembers what it feels like to have stiff new boots, blisters, and an ill-fitting pack.... Women are likely to appreciate her sensitivity to a range of issues and practical questions often ignored by male guidebook writers." -- Quincy Patriot Ledger (Massachusetts).
"A companion book to the Trailside PBS-TV series offers comprehensive information about hiking throughout the U.S., covering equipment and food, hiking skills, choosing a campsite, traveling with kids, and hiking long distances." -- Ingram.
Everyday Wisdom
"Well organized and entertaining. Berger gives practical advice to help hikers survive and enjoy their outdoor experiences, addressing pre-trip planning, food, cooking, weather, health, first aid, and water. Her love of camping and the wilderness is obvious throughout, making for a fun as well as vastly informative book" -- Library Journal
"Offers amateurs and experienced backpackers alike practical problem-solving advice that can lead to more enjoyable adventures in the backcountry... Everyday Wisdom is filled with the sort of information that every outdoors enthusiast can use." -- Amazon.com
Scuba Diving: A Trailside Guide
"Colorful, in-depth look at world of Scuba. You'll learn the right apparatus for your particular type of diving, the proper techniques for entry, descent, buoyancy, breathing, moving underwater, navigation, ascent and exit, deciding when and where to dive, vital information on dive tables, equipment checks, first aid and overcoming fatigue, using the buddy system and assisting an ailing comrade; and tips on advanced diving, which can involve shipwrecks, caverns, kelp beds, night-time expeditions, and underwater photography... Well organized and sprightly." -- Seattle Times.
"All the information divers need to get started... Author Karen Berger begins with an engaging account of her first underwater experience on a tropical reef off eastern Africa in 1991 and then runs through a brief history of the sport before getting down to the basics of scuba." -- PADI Diving Society.
Hiking the Triple Crown
"Hiking the Triple Crown is a must-read for anyone planning a long-distance hike and an excellent resource for section hikers as well." -- Robert Ballou, Executive Direction, PCT Association.
"A hiker's hiker, Karen Berger wastes neither words nor the reader's time: She tells you what you need to know to enjoy our great trails." -- Dave Startzell, Executive Director, Appalachian Trail Conference.
"We have the accumulated wisdom of Karen Berger, a highly respected backpacker, journalist, and author... plenty of advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of long-distance hiking and a ton of invaluable anecdotal evidence it'd take you years to learn on the trail." --TGO (The Great Outdoors, England).
